RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS: IMPACT OF COMORBIDITIES ON CLINICAL PROGNOSIS OF COVID – 19 IN HOSPITALISED PATIENTS

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents with a wide spectrum of clinical severity, ranging from mild illness to life-threatening complications. Comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases have been shown to influence disease outcomes. Understanding their impact is essential for risk stratification and effective management of hospitalised patients. Objective: To evaluate the influence of pre-existing comorbidities on the clinical course, severity, and outcomes of COVID-19 among hospitalised patients. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted using medical records of confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to tertiary care hospital with duration of 6 Months. Demographic details, comorbid conditions, laboratory findings, clinical severity, treatment interventions, and outcomes (recovery, ICU admission, or death) were analysed. Statistical associations between comorbidities and clinical outcomes were assessed using appropriate univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Out of 150 hospitalised COVID-19 patients, 79 % had at least one comorbidity. Patients with multiple comorbidities exhibited significantly higher rates of ICU admission, prolonged hospital stay, and mortality (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease as independent predictors of poor prognosis. Conclusion: Comorbidities substantially worsen the clinical outcomes of hospitalised COVID-19 patients, with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases emerging as the strongest predictors of severity and mortality. Early identification and aggressive management of high-risk patients may improve survival and optimise healthcare resource utilisation.